That's Vapore - Light, Fresh Lunch Near Milan Duomo

This new restaurant is a short walk from the Duomo and Via Montenapoleone, and offers a refreshingly healthy lunch near at the reasonable price of around €12-15 Euros.

The real novelty of this restaurant is that all the dishes are made inside of special little steam ovens and served up in attractive little bamboo wood baskets with a paper lining.  These boxes contain a selection of vegetarian, fish/seafood, and pasta dishes.  You can also get a freshly-made soup, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, dessert and one of the best made coffees in the area.

The service is surprisingly good, and you are usually given a quick explanatory tour of the That's Vapore concept before you are seated.  Only open since December, but beware...there are already lines out the door at lunch.

On Sunday they have a special brunch offer that's worth trying out for between € 18-21 per person.

A pochi passi dal Duomo e Montenapoleone, questo ristorantino luminoso offre un pranzetto leggero e salutare al prezzo ragionevole di €12-15 Euro.

La vera novità è la presentazione in deliziosi cestinetti di bamboo e la cottura al momento in forno al vapore.  Si può scegliere tra una selezione di primi e secondi vegetariani,  a base di pesce e con pasta cous cous o riso.  Ci sono anche delle zuppe buonissime, centrifugati di frutta e verdura, dolci fatti da loro e uno dei migliori caffé della zona.

Il servizio è buono e la prima volta che vai ci tengono a spiegare al volo il concept dietro That's Vapore.  Attezione, è aperto solo da dicembre scorso, ma pranzo ci sono già delle code piuttosto lunghe.  Da provare anche il buonissimo brunch che costa dai € 18-21 a persona.

Located on Corso di Porta Vittoria, 5, 20122 Milan, Italy   Tel. 0276281437
www.thatsvapore.com 

Excelsior - New Shopping Paradise in Milan

It would take pages to list all of the brands that are sold and beautifully displayed in this new fashion mecca in Milan.  Excelsior is the newest department store in Milan, and the three floors dedicated to clothing and accessories are managed by Antonia (read more about this fabulous shop in my other post) and this means that the selection is top notch and eclectic, carrying both the big names and harder to find niche brands and novelty gift items.   They've also got a Tiffany's boutique and a perfume bar.  When you're ready for a break, Excelsior houses a fantastic gourmet food and wine department, a couple of chic restaurants and a café, a Ladurée macaron corner, so it's also a great place to eat a hot meal or take away a tasty fresh salad and a great bottle of artisanal beer.  This place is not to be missed!

Galleria del Corso 4, Milano, just behind the Duomo.

 http://www.excelsiormilano.com

The Bagel Factory

I cannot express the joy and excitement I felt when I was introduced to this fantastic new bagel shop in Milan, near the Navigli, in Piazza XXIV Maggio.

The bagels are great, the price is right, and the decor and super-friendly service make you feel like you're in the U.S.

Check it out!  +39 02 39811951

Giacomo Milano - More Than a Culinary Institution

Giacomo Milano is synonymous with refined quality:  With several locations in town they cover a lot of territory:  a restaurant specialized in seafood, a bistrot, a fine tobacco and perfume shop, and a patisserie all to be found in one block...they certainly cornered the neighborhood of Via Sottocorno.
Each restaurant or shop has a carefully chosen retro decor, giving a glimpse of a historic Milan that has been somewhat eclipsed by a more more glitzy, design-oriented modernism.  Good food, good wine list, good setting...just add the good company...

More recently, Giacomo has opened a restaurant right on Piazza del Duomo, Giacomo Arengarario, inside of the new museum dedicated to 20th century Italian art, Museo del '900.   The view of the Duomo is unparallelled, perfect for a lunch break downtown, and the art deco decor is sleek and elegant.

www.giacomomilano.com